Valve-spring lifter



Feb. 2 1926.

. 1,571,195 L. GAFFNEY VALVE SPRING LIFTER Filed Dec. 26, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet l L\ N "uh i; N 1

Feb. 2,1926. 1,511,195

L. GAFFNEY um! SPRING LIFTER Filed Dec. 26, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 2, 1926.

UNITED sraras LEO GAFFNEY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

VALVE-SPRING LIFTER.

Application filed December 26, 1923. Serial No. 682,631.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Lno GAFFNEY, a citi zen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, county of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Valve-Spring Lifters, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to valve-spring lifters adapted for use on internal combustion engines for lifting the valve spring so that the pin may be removed from the valve stem and the valve from the engine. The objects are to provide a lifter of simple and durable construction which is adjustable to fit nun'ierous types of internal combustion engines and to provide a lifter which will lift the spring to any desired height and hold it in lifted position.

These objects, and other advantageous ends which will be described hereinafter, I attain in the following manner, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a central section through a lifterconstructed in accordance with my invention showing it lifting the valve spring of an internal combustion engine,

Figure 2 a side elevation of the lifter shown in Figure 1 illustratingthe same in another position,

Figure 3a section on line 33 of Figure Fi'gure 4c a top plan view of the lifter shown in Figure 1,

Figure 5 a bottom plan view of Figure 4,

Figure 6 a right hand end view of Figure 2- with the actuating means omitted,

Figure 7 a section on-line 7-7 of Figure A," v a Flgure 8 a section on'hne 8-8 of Figure iFigure 9a pla n view of the actuating handle, and

Figure 10 an .end view of the handle.- Referringto vthe'diawings, 1 indicates the tappet boss of an internal combustion engine, 2 the tappet slidable therein, 3 the valve stem, 4 .the retaining cup on thevalve stem, 5 the pin on the valve stem for holding the retaining cup in position and 6 the valve spring resting in the retainingcup for holding the valve in a closed position.

My improved lifter includes a top lever 7 having a pronged jaw 8 on oneend, a'bottom lever 9 having a pronged jaw 10 onone end and a pivot 11 connecting the other ends 12 and 13 of the top and bottom levers. The top lever is composed of longitudinal section 14: and 15. Each section has a prong 16 which forms the pronged jaw 8 and a downwardly bent part 17 which forms the end 12. The bottom lever 9 is composed of longitudinal sections 18 and 19. Each section has a prong 20 which forms the pronged jaw 10 and an outwardly off-set part 21 which forms the end 13. The ends 12 and 13 of the levers are loosely pivoted by the pin 11, as shown at 22 in Figure 6, so that the sections may be adjusted toward and away from each other to fit different types of engines.

The means, for adjusting the sections 14: and 15 of the top lever toward and away from each other, consist of a Ushaped clip 23 resting on th top of the sections. and having its legs embracing the sides thereof; a washer 24 abutting the bottom of the sections; a bolt 25, having a square shank 26, passing through the washer, between the sections, and through the clip; and a wing nut 27 for securing the bolt. The adjusting means for the sections 18 and 19 of the bottom lever consist of a Ushaped clip 28 abutting the bottom of the sections and having. its ends embracing the sides thereof; a washer 29 resting on the top of the sections; a bolt 30, having a square shank 81, passing through the washer 29, between the sections and througlr the clip 28; and a nut 82 for securing the bolt. It is readily seen that by loosening the bolts and 30 and sliding them lengthwise of the levers 7 and 9, the prongs 16' and- 20 will be adjusted toward-and away from each other, and by tightening th nuts 27 and 32 the sections will be hold in an adjusted position. Each prong16is provided with a shoulder 33 on its inner side which engages the retaining cup 4: when lifting the spring.

The means for separating the=levers to raise spring 6 consists of an actuating handle iii-having a separator 35 on its end. The separator may-be of any suitable shape so long as the lever-engaging edges-36 and 37 are substantially parallel. These parallel edges, when in theposition shown in Figure 2,. keep the levers 7 and 9 separated and thereby hold the spring in a raised position.

To usemyyalve spring lifter, prongs 16 and are adjusted to lit around the retaining cup t and tappet .2 respectively. The jaws 8 and 10 thus adjusted are placed between the retaining cup and boss 1 as shown in Figure 1 so that the retaining cup will engage the shoulders The separator is then placed between levers 7 and 9 as shown in Figure l and the actuating handle 3% swung downwardly until its edges 35 and 37 engage levers 7 and 9 as shown in Figure 2. This movement of the handle 3%- separates the levers and raises the retaining cup oil? the pin 5. The pin is then removed from the valve stem and the stem from the engine. The retaining cup may be held in this position until the valve stem is ready to be replaced, or the spring may be lowered by raising the actuating handle 34 to allow levers 7 and 9 to come together and the retaining cup and spring removed from the engine.

By constructing a valve lifter as above set forth it is adapted for use with numerous types of engines; the separator will be held in position between the levers 7 and 9 when the spring is raised without requiring the attention of the user, and a practically vertical movement of the retaining cup is obtained, thereby preventing binding of the cup against the valve stem.

While I have described my invention as taking a particular form, it will be understood that the various parts may be changed without departing from the spirit thereof, and hence I do not limit myself to the precise construction set forth, but consider that I am at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is l. A valvespring lifter including a top lever composed of longitudinal sections; a bottom lever composed of longitudinal sections; prongs forming jaws on one end of the sections; a pivot connecting the other ends of the sections; means clamped over the sections of each lever and embracing the sides thereof for preventing outward movement of the sections; thumb screw means engaging said clamping means and extending between said sections for preventing inward movement thereof; and means for separating the jaws.

2. A valve-spring lifter including a top lever composed of longitudinal sections; a bottom lever composed of longitudinal sections; prongs forming jaws on one end of the sections, the other ends of the sections of one lever being bent outwardly, and the companion ends of the sections of the other lever being bent towards said outwardly bent ends and being embraced thereby; a pivot pin connecting said bent ends; means on each lever for adjusting the sections toward and away from each other and including means to embrace the sections and prevent outward movement thereof; and means for separating the jaws.

8. A valve spring lifter including a top lever composed of longitudinal sections; a bottom lever composed of longitudinal sections; prongs forming jaws of one end of the sections; the other end of each section of the bottom lever being offset outwardly; the other end of each section of the top lever being bent downwardly; a pivot for connecting the downwardly bent ends between the offset ends; and means for separating the aws.

4. A valve-spring lifter including a top lever composed of longitudinal sections; prongs forming jaws on one end of the sec tions; a bottom lever; a pivot connecting one end of the bottom lever to the other end of the sections; a pronged jaw on the other end of the bottom lever; a clip on the sections for preventing outward movement thereof; means passing through the clip and between the sections for securing them and preventing inward movement thereof, and means for separating the jaws.

5. A. valve-spring lifter including a top lever composed of longitudinal sections; prongs forming a jaw on one end of the sections; a bottom lever; a pivot connecting one end of the bottom lever to the other end of the sections; a pronged jaw on the other end of the bottom lever; a clip on the sections for preventing outward movement thereof; a bolt passing through the clips and between the sections for securing them and preventing inward movement thereof, and means for separating the jaws.

6. A valve-spring lifter including a top lever composed of longitudinal sections; prongs forming a jaw on one end of the sections; a bottom lever; a pivot connecting one end of the bottom lever to the other end of the sections; a pronged jaw on the other end of the bottom lever; U-shaped clips on the top of the sections and embracing the sides thereof for preventing outward movement of the sections; a bolt, passing between the sections and through the clip, for securing the sections and preventing inward movementthereof, and means for separating the aws.

7. A valve-spring lifter including a top lever composed of longitudinal sections; a bottom lever composed of longitudinal sections; prongs forming jaws on one end of the sections; a pivot connecting the other ends of the sections, and a handle with a separator head having parallel side edges pressing against the inner sides of said levers upon tilting said handle for separating the jaws.

8. A valve-spring lifter including a top lever composed of longitudinal sections; a for connecting the downwardly bent part bottoin lever composed of longitudinal secbetween the offset parts, and a separator tions; prongs forming jaws on one end having substantially parallel edges for en- 10 of the sections; an outwardly off-set part gaging the levers and separating the jaws.

5 on the other end of each bottom lever In testimony whereof I have signed my section a downwardly bent part on the name. other end of the top lever sections; a pivot LEO GAFFNEY. 

